Town Square

Field of Dreams dashed

Original post made
on Sep 1, 2007

The Planning Commission last night unanimously denied a permit for David Lowe to keep the 18,000-square-foot sports turf field he built for his kids, overlooking a cluster of homes on Alamo Springs Place and El Alamo in Danville. He built the field for his son's Little League practice at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Photo by Jordan M. Doronila

The only mistake Mr. Lowe made was not getting a permit. Had he applied for a permit, his "neighbors" would have killed it. I am sure Mr. Lowe thought that it would be better to ask forgiveness rather than permission.

People should be ashamed of themselves and have their priorities in the wrong place. Here is a man that wants to build a field so that he can spend time he has with his kids (and 10 other kids that aren't even his) helping them to grow up to become better adults, and people are worried about their views. That makes me and should make everyone else sick.

This is nothing to mention of the fact that this is Mr. Lowe's property, not the towns, and certainly not his neighbors. Mr. Lowe should be able to do whatever he wants with his own land, with some exceptions(meth lab, etc.). A fence does not, or should not be one of those exceptions.

It is outageous that anyone would consider telling someone else what they can and can't do with their own property. It is nothing less than mob rule. The worst part is that the mob doesn't care that the message to the kids is: "hey kids, don't bother trying to make a difference in your community, because nobody really cares anyway."

Besides that the fence is at the TOP of the ridge. What are people looking at, the sky? There is lots of sky all over and I am sure that the view is much better in the other direction (down the hill).
The problem with your 'neighbors' is that they can't stand to not have absolute control over everything and everyone in their world. They think that the world should have to ask their permission to go to the restroom.

So Mr. Lowe, lower the fence and see who starts complaining when windows start breaking. When they come calling asking for you to replace their windows, tell them to go pound sand.

Posted by Call me Mike
a resident of Danville
on Sep 28, 2007 at 8:32 pm

Contrary to Bob S. comments (above), the only mistake Mr. Lowe made was not building a 7,000sf mansion on a protected major ridgeline, like the one that was just approved on Lawrence Road. Yeah, that's okay but a temporary ballfield? NO WAY!
Actually, the Lawrence Road homeowner prevailed because he out-lawyered the Town to protect his property rights, but what is the average homeowner that just wants to have something nice for his kids supposed to do?